The Old Settler

I taped this movie on PBS about a month or so ago. I just watched it last night. It was such a warm and moving film, the kind that pulls you into the time setting. The dynamics of the sisters were wonderful, and you could feel the hope, anger, dashed dreams of all of the characters. It was interesting, also, to learn what the title meant. If you understand and are interested in the zeitgeist of the Harlem Renaissance, it will be very interesting viewing

I enjoyed this movie very much. Even while I was watching it I wondered whether it might be better to watch it as a play as some of the nuances are lost Without any audience response, the humour, the disgust and fear etc ... . And it may have also sterilised the actors a little bit. All of the main characters are so very powerful and to the viewer and well played in my view. I am a hopeless romantic and the couple of times that what the viewer might have hoped for doesn't happen is not insignificant.

I learnt a lot about the commentary on segregation but I'm less familiar with me being from Australia.

Thanks, Ben.

The black The Heiress, and just as good. I love the way Ms. Allen's movies can be set in a world populated by all blacks, the way whites often make movies populated by all whites. If the flick is set in 1940s Harlem their world would be all black. The story is exquisite, telling a kind of dynamic between the sisters that family fosters, i.e., love/hate, expertly expressed. We see clearly the teetering of their relationship, the way it turns on a dime. The emotional expression is on a masterly level, pretty much across the board, which, this being a film based on a play, is only a handful of people. A May/December relationship develops between a young man and a middle-aged woman. It's heartfelt on both sides, until a young woman decides to do something about it. Both of the female stars, Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen, are crazy stupid good in these rolls. Actually they neither of them have ever disappointed; but still, this being such a well-directed and written movie, it highlights the talents of everyone.

I've always liked Phylicia Rashad, and this was a pleasant surprise. It took about 30 seconds for me to be hooked. By the end, I was totally engrossed, and empathetic. We've all been stood up, or worse; left at the altar. Elisabeth was so confident and so trusting, and the viewer was right there with her. But in the end she was vulnerable and hurt. Great story, beautiful characterizations, powerful performances. Complex and bittersweet, just like the lives of most humans.

The Old Settler is now one of my favorite movies. I ran across it at Wal-Mart about a month ago and have watched it over and over. I picked it up half-heartedly and I'm so glad I did. I always loved Phylicia Rashad as Claire Huxtable and have hated that I haven't seen more of her on the "Big Screen". The Old Settler was fabulous from start to finish. I am very interested in film-making and tend to be very critical of movies, but I have no criticism for The Old Settler. In my opinion, every aspect of it was done incredibly well. The acting was superb, the set design and costuming were wonderful, the screenplay was fabulous, and of course Debbie Allen is absolutely THE BEST director around. I have told everyone how wonderful this movie is and can't wait for everybody I know to see it. I didn't like the ending, but that was only because it was so sad. Kudos to everyone involved in this fantastic work.